Love at First Bite by Jessica Coulter Smith

Today I have Sean from Love at First Bite with me.

So Brian, being gay in a small town must be hard. Have you ever wished you weren’t?

There were times in the past I wondered why I was born this way, but I’m comfortable being me. If people can’t handle the fact that I’m gay, that’s their problem, not mine.

So what’s it like being with a vampire?

Different. I can honestly say I’ve never with anyone like Brian before. But then, that isn’t just because he’s a vampire. I know the moment he enters a room, without even looking. And when he bites me – it’s incredible!

You wouldn’t change anything?

Well, the idea of growing old while he stays the same bothers me sometimes. We haven’t really discussed the possibility of him turning me, but I know it will come up in the future.

And it wouldn’t bother you to be a vampire?

Honestly? No. It would allow me to be with the man I love for eternity. What’s not to love?

You’re that certain he’s “the one”?

Oh yeah. I can honestly say that I can’t see myself with anyone else, ever. Brian is amazing, and I don’t just mean the intimacy,  but that’s pretty wonderful, too. He completes me.

 
Well, thank you for stopping by, Sean. I can’t wait to hear more about your story.

Love at First Bite by Jessica Coulter Smith

Available Now from Changeling Press

When Sean discovers Brian is a vampire, he’s ready for love at first bite.

Sean has spent his life in the small-minded town of Willow Grove. Given his preference in sexual partners, finding romance has always been a challenge – until Brian.

When Brian walks into Sam’s Place, the first thing he sees is Sean and he knows he has to have him. When he takes Sean back to his place, he reveals his true self and hopes that Sean will accept him -- fangs and all.

Excerpt

I glanced at my watch and realized I didn’t have much time before I had to be at work. With a groan, I slipped out of bed and dressed.

“What’s wrong?” Brian asked in a groggy voice.

“My car is still at the bar, and I’m going to be late for work.”

“So take mine.”

“Are you sure?” I couldn’t imagine driving the sleek machine he owned.

He chuckled. “Not like I’m going to use it anytime soon. I may not sleep all day, but I am stuck here until the sun goes down.”

“Thanks. I’ll bring it back as soon as I get off work.”

“Good.” He smiled. “I can’t wait to see you again.”

I warmed from the inside out at his words and knew I had a goofy grin on my face. Blowing him a kiss, I grabbed his keys and left. I had less than half an hour to go home, shower, change and get to work. I think it was safe to say I would be late.

* * *

Forty-five minutes later, I pulled into the parking lot at work, grabbed my bag and rushed inside. I’d already called the secretary to let her know I was running behind.

Thankfully, she hadn’t asked any questions.

“Any messages, Jane?” I asked as I hurried by her desk.

“Just one, from some guy named Brian.”

I felt my face flush and grabbed the note from her. She gave me a knowing smirk as I walked off. Thank goodness Jane was cool with me being gay. If anything, it made me her favorite guy in the office. She never had to worry I would hit on her.

When I got to my desk, I put my stuff down and picked up the phone. Brian answered on the first ring.

“It’s about time,” he said playfully.

“Miss me already?”

“You bet.”

“I’ll swing by your place when I leave here, probably around five-ish.”

“Bring a change of clothes. I liked you staying the night.”

“Me too,” I murmured with a smile.

“So… I’ll see you when you get here.”

“See you then.”

He hung up and I logged into my computer. As I skimmed through my email, I saw something from my boss. When I opened it, I groaned. My project was now due tomorrow instead of next week. There was no way I could get the CAD drawings done in time. It would take a miracle. I’d been pacing myself for my original due date, not expecting such a radical change.

I picked up the phone and called Brian back. “Hey, I’ve had a change of plans.”

“Find someone hotter?” he joked.

“No, that couldn’t happen. But work did… I have a project due tomorrow that wasn’t supposed to be finished for another week. If I don’t stay and work on it, I’ll never get it finished.”

“So, I’ll bring you something to eat and we can spend a little time together later tonight.”

I smiled, glad he understood. “That would be great.”

After we hung up, I was still smiling. Not only was he excellent in the sack, but he was accepting and flexible with my work schedule. I couldn’t have asked for more in a partner. Not that we were at that stage yet. At least, I didn’t think we were. I hadn’t thought to ask when he saw clients, but I’d bet he saw them at night. Otherwise, how would he get to the office? I hoped I wasn’t cutting into his work time.

The Next Big Thing

In which I sort of interview myself on my current work in progress.

I was tagged for this interview by a forum friend, Ruth Madison. I’m normally reluctant about doing memes, but when Ruth so kindly asked me, I decided to give it a go. I’m always excited to see what questions other people come up with.

However, there was a major issue – I have five current works in progress at the moment! Nevertheless, I picked the one I am writing most on this week, and plunged in. You might have noticed I am a bit tight lipped when it comes to my WIPs, especially these days, but it seems like a good time to let a few cats out of some bags.

So, on with the interview on September’s WIP:

What is the working title of your book?

Right now, I’m calling it Memento Mori, but I’m also toying with the title Last Look, since the other is rather used up.

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I had been working on a novel set in the 1950s, but I’ve always been drawn towards the Victorian era. I love historical photographs, especially (and forgive the grimness) Victorian postmortem portraits. These are portraits taken of loved ones after death, and were relatively common, especially for children. With the cost and inconvenience of photography, many families never got a live shot of the departed before it was too late, so they would have one done after death. Today, this might seem rather shocking, but I think it's quite touching. And some of the photos are beautifully done. One night, looking at such pictures, the whole story came to me in a flash, via the entire person of the main character, William Tidy, all surrounding this practice of photographing the dead.

What genre does your book fall under?

I don’t really know. It has some romantic elements, but it isn’t a romance. I’d have to say “litfic”, whatever that really is, or general fiction. Possibly historical fiction, though it’s more about the people than the history. I will have that all ironed out before I have to market it. I hope.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?

I always cast my WIP as a movie in my head, but this main character is uniquely himself. Sometimes, when I make the little puppets dance in my mind so I can write it down, he is Johnny Depp, but other times, he is someone else, like Daniel Radcliffe or someone. He's himself, really. The lady in the book is certainly Rachel Weisz, who I think is one of the loveliest women in the world.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A man more comfortable with the dead discovers that life happens whether you want it or not.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?

Not certain, really. I am not exactly drooling for an agent, but I’m not sure this book would be best served by a small epub, and I lack experience with non-romance publishers. I’d love to see it published with a bigger publisher, naturally enough, but I doubt that would happen before I got tired of waiting, and certainly not without an agent. I have considered self-publishing something, but I remain undecided. Who knows? Maybe it will sit in a drawer forever. I guess we shall see what we shall see.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

Still working on it. It started out as a novella, but I think now it might become a novel. I’m hoping to have it done by the end of September, if I can fend off the laziness.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

I really can’t say. I don’t think in terms of comparisons, especially with litfic. I’m writing it in a very consciously Victorian style and feel, so the language reminds me of some books, whereas the story doesn’t.

Who or What inspired you to write this book?

My pure love of Victoriana, and the gruesome beauty of these photos. And motherhood, though I might be giving too much away there. Mostly, I'm writing it just for myself, since it's a story I'd like to read and the character has endeared himself to me.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?

If lots of corpses doesn’t interest people, I don’t know what will. There might be a hot air balloon involved at some point, and a portion takes place in a wax museum, does that help?

Also, my hero never once says, “I see dead people.”

Thanks, Ruth, for giving me a nudge!

Now, “Tag! You’re it!”

Krista D. Ball

Jessica Coulter Smith

Michel Prince

Ashlynn Monroe

Melissa Keir 

New Erotica from Jessica Coulter Smith!

Vaaden Captives: Sorcha



Science fiction just got a whole lot hotter! The Vaaden Captives series, published with Changeling Press, features sensually erotic love scenes, drama, and a romance that cannot be denied. When Sorcha finds herself on another planet, forced to be a sex slave, she’s terrified – until she meets her own. Thale is tall, blond, and gorgeous… but when Sorcha finds out he’s married, she’s miserable.

When she meets Thale’s brother, Valen, she’s immediately drawn to him. The opposite of Thale, Valen treats her with respect. It doesn’t hurt that she desires more than she’s ever wanted a man before. But what will happen if she falls in love with him?

Will Thale give her up, or force her to stay with him?

PG-13 Excerpt:

We entered Thale’s home and he carried me to his bedroom. Setting me gently on my feet, he turned to a set of double doors. They slid open revealing a neatly organized closet.

He selected a knit shirt and handed it to me. “This should work until I can get you something else to wear.”

My face flamed in embarrassment. If you hadn’t ripped my dress, I wouldn’t need something else. I knew voicing my opinion out loud wouldn’t end well, but I figured making snarky remarks in my head was okay.

Accepting the shirt, I slipped it over my head, removing the tattered dress in the process.

Sufficiently covered, I stood awkwardly, not knowing what he wanted from me. My eyes strayed to the bed, a large round thing that dominated the middle of the room. I hadn’t seen anything quite like it before, but it looked comfortable. Would he expect me to share it with him? Or, as a slave, would I sleep elsewhere?

The floor under my feet was soft, but the material was foreign to me, something between carpet and fur. I noticed a beveled mirror on one wall, running from ceiling to floor. Upon closer inspection, I realized it was part of the wall and not hanging on it. Another metal door was off to the side and I wondered if it was to the bathroom.

Thale noticed my line of sight and smiled. “Would you like to clean up a little?”

I nodded and waited.

He walked over to the door and pressed a hand to its surface. The door whooshed open, disappearing into the wall much the same as the closet doors had. Inside, everything was a bright white. To the right was an open area with jets both above and below. I assumed it was some sort of shower and watched as Thale placed his hand over a small knob, and water began to stream from the jets. “You can get in; the water comes out nice and warm.” He nodded toward the shower.

I realized he wasn’t leaving and assumed he was going to watch while I undressed and bathed. With shaking hands and a flaming face, I removed the shirt I had donned just moments before and stepped into the watery paradise.

Closing my eyes, I tried not to think of the man watching me. I let the water stream over my hair and face, trickle down my body; I let it soothe my shattered nerves. So much had changed in such a small amount of time. The life I knew was gone, and now I found myself living a new one, a life in which I was no more than a captive, a slave to the whims of the man who had claimed me.

~*~
Jessica Coulter Smith is a reviewer with The Novel Blog, and author of over a dozen works available through Wild Horse Press and Changeling.

Available from Wild Horse Press: Whispering Lake (2008/2009), Moonlight Protector (2009), Magnolia Magick (2009), Moonlight Hero (2009), and Moonlight Guardian (2009), Vicus Luna (2009), Heart's Desire (2010), Moonlight Champion (2010). Available from Changeling Press: Vaaden captives: Sorcha (10/2010).

Coming Soon from Wild Horse Press: The Demon's Princess (10/26/2010), Christmas Magick (11/30/2010, anthology), Holiday Haunting (11/30/2010, anthology), The Fallen Angel's Faith (12/21/2010) and The Raven Wars (12/2010). Coming Soon from Changeling Press: Creaole Nights (11/5/2010), Yuletide Spirit (TBA), Vaaden Captives: Enid (TBA).